The 6 Best Christmas Celebrations Around the World

Christmas is just around the corner. Luckily, there’s still time to think about how to make this year’s holiday a little extra special. For some inspiration, here are the six best Christmas celebrations around the world. If one of these catches your eye, it might just be a good idea to book a plane ticket today!  

1. Winter Wonderland (London, England)

During the winter, the city of London transforms into a Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. This annual holiday event begins in mid-November and runs until early January. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland has been happening for over 15 years and has something for families, couples, and groups of friends.

You can go ice skating, walk through the ice kingdom with over 500 ice sculptures, watch the Christmas Circus, shop the Christmas Market, try the Ferris wheel, and more. Remember to give yourself plenty of time here. You can easily spend a whole day in this wonderland taking part in holiday activities that will leave you feeling cheerful.

2. Rockefeller Center (New York City, USA)

If you’ve seen a lot of holiday films, you’ve probably seen the classic views of New York City all decorated and lit up for the holidays. Simply put, there’s something magical about celebrating Christmas in New York. There’s usually a light dusting of snow, the largest Christmas tree in the world, and a large ice skating rink. Also, you can make it a perfect holiday by treating yourself to seeing “The Nutcracker” performed by the New York City Ballet. Or, catching a holiday show on Broadway.

3. Santa Claus Village (Lapland, Finland)

Travel to the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland, and you can enter a real Santa Claus Village. Interestingly, the village is actually open all year round. But, of course, there’s nothing quite like coming here during the holidays. Some of the activities you can do here are meet Santa, visit the reindeer, go skating, and visit the Snowman World. It doesn’t get more Christmas than this!

4. Christmas Fair (Budapest, Hungary)

Budapest is known for many things, including its famous Christmas fair. Every year, Vorosmarty Square is completely transformed into a holiday paradise. This is arguably Europe’s most beautiful holiday market and it attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The Vorosmarty Square Christmas Fair is full of wooden stalls selling food, crafts, and gifts. So, grab yourself some mulled wine, eat some treats, collect some holiday souvenirs, and meet Santa. With the beautiful scenery, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a holiday movie!

5. Santa’s Enchanted Forest (Miami, USA)

Santa’s Enchanted Forest is the world’s largest holiday theme park, operating since 1983. This wonderful theme park runs from November to early January. Families can bring their children here for a Christmas celebration they’ll remember forever. The park has over 100 rides, shows, and attractions. You’ll want to dedicate a day or two to visiting here as there’s so much to do and explore. Plus, your kids will never want to leave!

6. Christmas Alley (Montreal, Canada)

If you’re prepared to handle some cold, consider tackling Montreal for Christmas. This city embraces the holidays like no other city in Canada. Not only is the ground covered with a beautiful white blanket of snow, but the city also launches a full calendar of holiday activities. You can go ice skating at the outdoor rink, watch the Nutcracker, and visit the annual outdoor light show.

But, our favorite holiday activity in Montreal is the Christmas Alley. The boutique store Maison Pepin in Old Montreal transforms its little alleyway into a tiny Christmas market. You can visit here and book a Christmas photography package to get a personal holiday photoshoot with the most stunning backdrop. This is just one example of how Montreal takes Christmas celebrations seriously!

So, which Christmas celebration is the top choice for you?